Chapter 19 – Sacrifice For My Girlfriend

It was almost evening.

After a lively game, Kotone-chan and I had a leisurely tea break.

Leisure time is a time of rest and relaxation. I was enjoying the luxury of just consuming time aimlessly.

“So that girl forgot it was the day of the experiment. We weren’t prepared at all and we were in a big pinch. But we got the other kids to help us before the teacher found out.”

Kotone-chan was chatting happily with me.

We talked about school, about our friends. It was nothing special, just our normal days.

Let me just say this. Just watching her talking happily makes me feel happy too. Since she’s talking about inside jokes, there’s no other way to enjoy it than to know the jokes.

“But I’m sure my sister would solve such a pinch in no time. You would understand, wouldn’t you, Yuji-sama? You’re in the same class as my sister, after all.”

I hesitated whether or not to return the nod.

A little sister who upholds her older sister. I don’t know if that’s normal. I don’t have any siblings. I think siblings should praise and honor each other.

However, even without knowing the specifics, I still feel a sense of discomfort.

“You know, Kotone-chan…”

“Yes?”

“You like your sister, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’m proud of my sister.”

She gave a smile from the heart. It doesn’t seem like a lie.

But… I can’t help remembering the last time I was questioned.

Kotone-chan once asked me, “Do you like my sister?”

I denied it at the time and she seemed to believe me.

But Kotone-chan’s sister must be a minefield for her. That’s how it seemed to me, and she didn’t talk about her sister much either.

But recently she has been talking about her older sister more and more often.

It seems like a fishhook to me. That’s why I didn’t dare respond.

But this far out, a hook may be a hook, but maybe it wasn’t what I had in mind.

“I like Kotone-chan more than Fujisaki-san. I’ve said it before, but I don’t have any feelings of love for Fujisaki-san.”

“Eh?”

Kotone-chan widened her eyes at the sudden declaration. It’s more embarrassing than I thought to say this.

I have to make this clear. I’m not lying. Believe me, I’m telling the truth! The more desperate I am, the more suspicious I will seem. To be believed, I must always remain calm.

“Today was fun. I thought Kotone-chan had a talent as a hairdresser when she cut my hair. The food was delicious and we had fun playing games together.”

Even if we were classmates, I wouldn’t have been able to have fun with Fujisaki-san like this. We’ve never played together in the first place.

I got to know Kotone-chan because she became my girlfriend. Playing with Kotone-chan is fun, I’m happy to have experienced it.

“…But it would have been more fun if you were with my sister, wouldn’t it?”

Kotone-chan looked at me timidly. Those were eyes that I had never seen in Kotone-chan before.

I knew it…

Kotone-chan loves her sister. There’s no lie in that.

But not all feelings toward others are the same.

“You won’t believe me even if I deny that, right?”

“Well, that…”

That might be the case, right? I can tell what she was going to say just by looking at Kotone-chan now.

She has surrendered to the existence of her older sister. And with all her heart at that. It’s not a half-hearted hurt.

Kotone-chan is a good girl. And she’s very cheerful.

The reason she has such a complex is because of her surroundings. Her parents, her friends, people who are close to her…

She’s a good girl, that’s why she couldn’t have been so stupid as to close her ears to the voices around her.

Well, she won’t tell me the details. Our relationship is a fake one born out of a threat, and it’s only for a limited time.

…And speaking of which, that deadline is only a month away now…

“Ah, that’s right!”

I clapped my hands. Kotone-chan got startled and shook her body. I’m sorry, I startled you, Kotone-chan.

In one month, Kotone-chan and I will end our relationship.

It’ll be the end of me going out with a cute girl. If I were an irresponsible boy, I would think that it’s okay to leave her scar as is…

“Let’s make Kotone-chan understand.”

“A-About what?”

Kotone-chan is a bit taken aback by my suspicious smile. I’m shocked at her reaction.

But not to be outdone, I pointed my right hand toward the sky. Not forgetting to stick out my index finger.

“I’m going to make Fujisaki-san, who Kotone-chan believes to be the unbeatable big sister, say ‘Gyanfun’!” (T/N: A sound one makes when shocked.)

School idol Fujisaki Ayane, for the sake of my girlfriend…Please sacrifice yourself.